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Reading Log/Book Journal Entry Suggestions

A reading log or book journal is a great place to react to what you read. You can find out exactly how you feel about the characters; you may gain insight about the theme and plot; and you can expand your overall enjoyment of the literature. Each reading session= 1 Journal response to a question below (always select a new question) or as directed by teacher

Here's How:

  1. Write down your thoughts--after reading the opening chapter(s) of the book. How do your impressions change (or do they) after reading half the book? Do you feel any differently after finishing the book? Would you read the book again?
  2. What emotions did the book invoke: laughter, tears, smiles, anger? Or, was the book just boring and meaningless? Record some of your reactions.
  3. Sometimes books touch you, reminding you of your own life, as part of the larger human experience. Are there connections between the book and your own life? Or, does the book remind you of an event (or events) that happened to someone you know? Does the book remind you of what happened in another book you've read?
  4. Would you like to be one of the characters (acquire a personality trait)? Which of the characters would you become, if you could? Why? If there's something about the character that you'd want to change, what is it?
  5. If you were the author, would you have changed the name of a character, or altered the location of a scene? What does the name mean to you? Do you have a negative connotation associated with the name (or the place)? What would you name the character instead? What would you use as a setting?
  6. Does the book leave you with questions you would like to ask? What are they? Would you like to direct your questions at a particular character? What questions would you like to ask the author of the book? Are they questions that you may be able to answer by reading more about the author's life and/or works?
  7. Are you confused about what happened (or didn't happen) in the book? What events or characters do you not understand? Does the use of language in the book confuse you? How did your confusion affect how you liked the book? Is there anything that the author could have done to make what happened (or didn't happen) more clear?
  8. Is there an idea in the book that makes you stop and think, or prompts questions? Identify the idea and explain your responses.
  9. What are your favorite lines/quotes? Copy them into your reading log/journal and explain why these passages caught your attention.
  10. How have you changed after reading the book? What did you learn that you never knew before?
  11. Who else should read this book? Should anyone not be encouraged to read this book? Why? Would you recommend the book to a friend or fellow classmate?
  12. Would you like to read more books by this author? Have you already read other books by the author? Why or why not?
  13. Write a brief summary or review of the book. What happened? What didn't happen? Capture what it is about the book that stands out (or doesn't stand out).
  14. Write about the characters? Which one is your favorite? Is there a character you hate/detest/despise? Why? What traits could you change about the characters that would change how you think about them? Do you think that any of the characters represent real people? Does anything about a particular character seem to be related to the author's true personality--who the writer is?


Current Events: News Links



BBC News - Home


CNN.com - RSS Channel - World

Al Jazeera English

Analysis Questions for Current Events Journal:


1. State the title of the article, date, and source.
2. Give a brief summary of the article; identify main issue.
3. Are their any controversies surrounding this article? If so, briefly state it.
4. State your perspective on this news article based on your own personal knowledge of the topic and your reading of this article. Connect to your world view.
5. How does this article relate to the units that we have been studying?


Current Events Rubric
A
B
C
D or below
Has completed all required entries, including citation.
May be missing one of the required entries, including citation.



May be missing two of the required entries, including citation.
Is missing three or more entries, including citation.
Thoroughly and accurately summarizes the article.
Accurately summarizes the article.

 Most articles are briefly summarized.
Article summaries are incomplete.
Strong approach to worldview.
Adequate approach to worldview.
Approach to worldview. is not consistent.
Approach to global view of theme worldview. is not evident.
Discussion of historical connection in all entries.
Discussion of historical connection in most entries.
Discussion of historical connection in some entries.
Little or no discussion of historical connection in entries.
All entries discuss frame or reference, point of view, and possible bias.
Most entries discuss frame or reference, point of view, and possible bias.
Some entries discuss frame or reference, point of view, and possible bias.
Little to no entries discuss frame or reference, point of view, and possible bias.
All reactions are thoughtful and insightful.
Most reactions are thoughtful and insightful.
Some reactions are thoughtful and insightful, some inconsistency in effort.
Few or no reactions are thoughtful and insightful or reactions not included in entry.
Articles reflect a consistent effort throughout the term (one entry per week)
Articles reflect a consistent effort throughout the term.
Articles reflect an uneven effort throughout the term.
Articles reflect no consistent effort throughout the term.
End of term worldview. reflections demonstrates thorough effort and careful thought.
 End of term worldview. reflections demonstrate effort and careful thought.
 End of term worldview. reflections demonstrate some effort and careful thought.

 End of term worldview. reflections demonstrate little or no effort or thought.

Wall-E Film Study


1. While viewing the film, use the Studies Studies Worldview icon and take down point form notes for each worldview about things you notice in the film.

2. In a paragraph, describe the setting of Wall.E’s world in the first half hour of the movie. Is it a viable depiction of our planet’s future? Explain.